Fresh Ideas for Your Church New Year Party

Written by Diana Davis

Need fresh ideas to spruce up your church or class New Year party?

Add Umph.
Create anticipation from above by designing a gigantic ceiling net (we used bridal netting) with a pull-strip to break it at midnight. Fill it with hundreds of balloons and confetti.

Add Food.
Serve a special menu, such as chili and tamales, a fancy mashed potato bar, or an eight foot sub sandwich. Offer fancy coffees and slushy fruit drinks. Make a memorable dessert, such as the “world’s largest” sundae, or gigantic molded 2008 numbers made with a rice krispie recipe.

Add Music.
Use recorded music, or schedule a variety of musicians to play background music on a small stage. Teens could make a Christian music video during the party, and everyone could view it at midnight. An impromptu kids’ kazoo band could march through the party room hourly. Or not.

Add Fun.
Keep the party moving with planned games and fellowship.

• Provide silly party hats.
• Plan special events for kids and teens (i.e. a treasure map, game tournament, or fun painting project).
• Gather hundreds of digital photos from last year’s church events for a continuous slide show.

Here are some articles that may help you with organizing games...

• Games That Bring Togetherness to Groups
• Five Fabulous Icebreaker Games
• Seven Rules of Leading Games

Add Meditative Moments.
Stage brief, unforgettable tidbits of inspiration. Cover a wall with paper for a mural titled “Our New Year Commitments to God.” Provide art supplies for partiers to draw or paint anytime during the evening. Designate an adjacent room for personal prayer. A short candlelight ceremony could include resolutions and prayer.

Here are some articles that may help you...

• Practical Reminders for Corporate Prayer Meetings
• Creative Ways to Infuse Your Worship Service with Prayer
• A Scriptural Beginning for the New Year
• Questions for a New Year

Add a New Year’s Resolution with Teeth.
Ask partyers to make a significant New Year commitment. Perhaps your pastor has challenged the church to prayer-walk every street in your area or to invite twelve friends to church this year. Just before midnight, invite attenders to prayerfully write that personal commitment to God, specifying precise details, i.e. which streets they will prayer-walk or names of friends they will invite. They seal it inside an envelope, address it to themselves, and the church office mails it on March 1st as a reminder and encouragement. 

• Discover the Impact of Prayer Walking

Let ‘er Rip!
As midnight arrives, blow horns, drop the balloons, hug your Christian friends and celebrate a New Year to serve our great God.

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More "Fresh Ideas" for your ministry are available in these practical books by Diana Davis:

• Fresh Ideas: 1,000 Ways to Grow a Thriving and Energetic Church 
• Fresh Ideas for Women's Ministry: Creative Plans and Programs that Really Work 
• Deacon's Wives: Fresh Ideas to Encourage Your Husband and the Church 

Also, check out Diana's official website at www.keeponshining.com

Diana Davis lives in Indianapolis, where her husband Steve serves as the Executive Director for the State Convention of Baptists in Indiana. A popular women’s conference speaker, Diana has ministered to women’s groups internationally. She especially loves encouraging pastors' wives and deacons’ wives.

Other free articles from Diana Davis on LifeWay.com:

• Fresh Ideas for Father's Day, A Father's Day Bookmark
• 10 Fresh Ideas for Mother's Day
• 8 Tips to Make Your Wednesdays Worthwhile
• 7 Ways to Focus on God this Independence Day
• Overcome Church Summer Slump with These Fresh Ideas
• Fresh Ideas for Your Church Thanksgiving Celebrations
• Fresh Ideas for Your Church New Year Party
• Top 10 Ideas for Clergy Appreciation Month
• How to Celebrate a Church Anniversary

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